Featured Shelter Pet: Luke, the English Foxhound & Australian Cattle Dog

November 11, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

In honor of National Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week, here is another adoptable pet (courtesy of DogTime Save A Dog!): Luke is one of five dogs in the Mutts With Manners program, part of the Danville-Boyle Co. Humane Society (DBCHS) in Danville, KY. According to the DBCHS website, ten inmates and 5 shelter dogs work together for 6 weeks with a professional trainer, prison staff and volunteers to provide the dogs with basic obedience training, socialization, behavior modification, and one-on-one... Read more

Walking the dog in the cemetery

November 11, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

One of my favorite places to walk with my dog is a small cemetery just a few minutes from our house. It’s quiet and I enjoy meandering amongst the gravestones, reading the inscriptions and wondering about the lives of the people buried there. I worry sometimes that it might be disrespectful, me and the dog, trodding around on top of people at rest. So when I take Bandit, I stick to the paved roadways to avoid him peeing on every marker. Today I... Read more

Featured shelter pet: Mack, the FIV positive black cat

November 10, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

In honor of National Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week, here’s another super pet looking for a forever home! This is Mack, a 3 1/2 year old kitty who’s currently being fostered by Black Cat Rescue in Boston. Not only is he at a disadvantage when it comes to finding a home because he’s a black cat (black cats are about half as likely to be adopted as cats of other colors), but he’s also FIV positive. (more…) Read more

Featured Shelter Pet: Meet Tycoon the Maine Coon

November 8, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

In honor of National Shelter (and Rescue) Appreciation Week, meet Tycoon! He’s a Maine Coon cat and he has the papers to prove it. Tycoon is a gorgeous purebreed (with papers) red mackeral tabby Maine Coon being fostered by a family in West Milford, NJ. Although he is shy, he’s a super sweet affectionate boy. He loves dogs, but is terrified of children and is looking for a “furever”home where he can be the only cat. You can learn more about... Read more

Featured Shelter Pet: Meet Sophie, the American Pit Bull Terrier

November 7, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

In honor of National Shelter (and Rescue) Appreciation Week, meet Sophie! She came from a huge hoarding bust that took place in Ohio in the beginning of 2010. She has had a rough, sad life to say the least. But guess what? Sophie bears no scars, no ill will, no grudges. She just wants a home to call her own! Sophie is 7 1/2 yrs old, loves to play ball, loves to chew on bones, and loves to go for walks. But most of... Read more

Celebrate National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, November 6-11, 2011

November 7, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

It’s National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, that time of the year to acknowledge the invaluable role shelters play in their communities and to increase public awareness of animal welfare issues and shelter services. The Humane Society of the United States launched National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week in 1996, based on an idea from the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln, Nebraska. So this week, why not take a minute to visit your local animal shelter. You may find your new best friend! Read more

Sleeping dog and playful kittens (video)

November 5, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

This is Murkin, who plays with, lives with and peacefully tolerates some adorable foster kittens. What a lovely example of responding to others with peace and patience, especially to those who are all up in our faces. You can see more videos of Murkin and the kitties on his YouTube.com page. Read more

The Cat Duet, as performed by The Little Singers of Paris

November 4, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

This wonderfully amusing video is making the Facebook rounds, and since it showcases not only talent but humor, I thought I’d share it with you. It appears that this is performed by Les Petits Chanteurs A la Croix De Bois, or The Little Singers of Paris, one of the most famous children’s choirs in the world. The choir was started in 1906, when two young students, Pierre Martin and Paul Berthier (Father of the composer Jacques Berthier and grandfather of France Gall),... Read more

Friday Food For Thought quote: our relationship with dogs

November 4, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

“The dogs we live with today are hardwired by millennia of purposeful breeding for a relationship with people, and who’s to say that humanity’s wiring to desire a relationship with dog has not been affected by our partnership with these remarkable creatures. Being guided by our shared instincts and common history brings us together into the most successful, unique interspecies relationship on the planet. And our relationships can only get better by further adapting how we relate to dogs in... Read more

"World's smallest elephant" photo making the rounds on Facebook not the whole story

November 3, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

I saw this photo on Facebook today of a tiny little elephant baby being held in someone’s hands, the caption of which said, “Worlds smallest elephant but he is fighting for his life so pray for him buy liking & sharing this staus . Express your love to him. . .” That’s one small elephant. But is it real? Turns out that the photo is real, but it’s not the world’s smallest elephant. According to the website ThatsNonsense.com, the photo is of... Read more